Key-operated type positioning device



Oct. 27, 1953 w. F. KOCH 2,656,787

KEY-OPERATED TYPE PosITIoNING DEVICE Original Filed July 9. 1948 r 2 Sheets-Sheet l /9 l0 fg f@ O G ffm@ O 1 \l l l zz .img

/l Zig-12F INVETOR.

Oct. 27, 1953 w, F, KOCH 2,656,787

KEY-OPERATED TYPE POSITIONING DEVICE Original Filed July 9, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rM 44 JJ INVENTOR.

WIV/iam Koe/7 Flug BY l l I l TTORNEYS Patented Oct. 27, 1953 KEY- OPERATED TYPE POSITIONING DEVICE William F. Koch,"Toledo, Ohioyassignor 4to Toledo Scale Company,Toledo, Ohio,` a corporationof New. Jersey Continuation .of abandonedapplication .Serial No. 37,812,`July 9, 1948. nThis..application0c- Htober 2, 1951, LSerial No. 2493330 This invention relates tov recording .mechanism for weighing scales and in .particular .to key-operatedmechanism for .setting up=typeto print an identifying -number ona, recording slip-along with'zthe printed indication of weight.

This isa continuation of application 'Serial No. 37g812f1ed July 9, 19.48,-now.abandoned,

Itis often desirable and in .some ycases necessary torecordidentifying symbolsor numberson the Weight records in order that the respective Weight `records may be. positively identified at later times. .Mechanismfor printing identifying symbols ornnumbersmustbe simple and positive in operation, :must be .easily .manipulated even vif the operator is .wearingIg1oves yand must be able to withstand continued.` use without vloss of accuracy.

y*Afweighing scale equipped withweight recordingmechanismis'illustratedfin Patent No. M864,-

5.70, issuedto .Lawrence S. I'Williams .on June 28, 1""

1932. This patent showsa `printing mechanism having .an auxiliarytype setting'ibar that cooperatedwith addtionalload counterbalancingmechanism so that .printed record contains anr vindication of the load counterbalancedby the-.automatic counterbalancing mechanism as fwell-as a :record ofl the. load that is counterbalanced by the supplementary vload counterbalancing :mechansm of thescale This inventionfisthe provision ofiimproved mechanism forvpositioningtype barngstrps Athat cooperate .with the printing diskndprntng.mechanism oidzhedevice. shown in;;the -\patent, gthertype bearing strips taking :.the Plate `.of the unit weightgindicatingl.istrip ofthe Datentedf'structure.

{Eheplincipal object ofv this .invention is -'coprovide improved :mechanism zforopostonng type bearing strips .imafweghingz scale recorder.

.-Anotherobject .of the invention is` to vprovide a key-operated mechanism that maymeaeasily adjustedand that` accurately ,positions typezbearing :strips in a printing ,.mechanism.

1A-still further objectofthe-invention is lto provide fa rmechanism in .which a plurality aof keys selectively. position a-type bearing. strip :and in whichgthezstrip `position correspondingiito each of the keys .is individually adjustable.

Another object -of.the: inventioncis. to. provide a .keyfoperated .positioningxdevice thatriis r'simple toamanufactureiand.assemble'andin-.Which most of; lthe :parts .arezeasilyaccessible for adjustment or repair.

Qtherobjects and. advantageSga-re fapparent from -the1ffollo'wing :description ycfa the improved keyoperatedrv positioning mechanism.

UIn v-a preferred embodiment tof the inventiorra -trame -thatis attachable to a Weighing. scalehousing has ljournaledthereina plurality ofbarsicne for each of the printingstripsto' be positioned Each 4of the -bars has an `edge .that 4is located eccentricallyto `the .axis of rotationof .the bar. A subframe is mountedadjacent suchedgeand a plurality of keys, each of which is slidableibetween two positions, :are vmounted inthe/:subframe with the keys in 1:lineswithathe: edge .of athe bar. Eachof the keys carriesanadjustablemember whichwhen the keyisidepressed contaotssthe edge of the bar and rotates the .Ybar-=against.athe force ofa springthat tends to'holdthebanat one end of its rotativemovement. Eachcf thekeys is resiliently lurged, ytoward its Anonfcontacting position and a. latch cooperatingswith.allfthekeys in one subframe serves tolhold vthe most recently depressed key 4in-its ydepressed or operative-position. The. adjustable portion of.` eachA of `.thekeys is accessible from the operators :end..of.the..key so that the-adjustment -may be .made without disassembly of: the completedfmechanism.

'The invention Ialso contemplates .l a release mechanism 'that cooperateswith `the latch .mechanismfof each subframe so .that all of .the :printing strips `vmayibe returned.:toztheirl Izero positions by a: single operation .of therelease. mechanism.

A-preferred :embodiment of:V theiinyention is illustrated *in itheaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure I :is a VAfragmentary f. perspective :view showingthe limproved key-.operated .positioning mechanism yattached tor .the side jof a Weighing scale housing.

Figure II is.v a greatly enlarged, `partially broken away perspective 'View off the improved; positioningmechanism.

Figure :III .is .a .vertical section"l taken.substan tially along .the l-ine III-'IIL of; lFigure 3 IV.

Figure IV is a horizontal sectiontaken-substantially salong.. the line 'I VQIV? off'Figure III.

,Figures aV.y and TVI-.are fragmentary ffdetails lgof ther resilient-member Whchnservesyto holdaihe latch in operative vposition.

These specic gures y,and the accompanying description are intended .merely :to illustratethe invention butnot to impose liniitationsv on ,the claims.

In thelWilliams Patent;l (N0. 1,864,570, referred to above, aprinting -mechanism.,;was .shown-,as attached to the head.m,chanism of .a weighing scale in suchposition `that printed recordscould be obtainedfromjtype- ,carriedcn a lightweight diskthatis revolved by theweighingmechanism.

Referring now to Figure I, load counterbalancing mechanism of a weighing scale, not shown, is enclosed within a watchcase-shaped housing I and printing mechanism, substantially as disclosed in the patent, is enclosed within a housing 2 attached to the front of the dial housing I. An upper portion 3 of the housing 2 is semicircular in form to enclose the disk upon which the weight indicia are formed and which indicia are visible through a magnifying glass 4 set in the face of the upper portion 3 of the housing 2. The printing operation takes place at the lowermost portion of the weight-operated dial, i. e. that portion which is just below the level of a shelf-like portion 5 of the housing 2, As usually manufactured, a slot is provided in the shelf-like portion 5 of the housing 2 through which slot tickets or paper strips may be inserted to receive the printed records.

A keyboard mechanism 6 is enclosed within a case 1 attached to the dial housing I adjacent the printing mechanism cover 2. The keyboard mechanism E comprises a plurality of keys 8 arranged in horizontal and vertical rows there being ten keys representative of the numbers from zero through nine in each vertical row and there being as many such Vertical rows as may be required.

Referringv now to Figure II, the keyboard assembly 5 includes a frame 9 that may be attached directly to the housing I of the weighing scale. The frame 9 has an upper flange I0 and a lower flange II (see also Figure HI). The flanges lil and Il have stepped counterbores I2 the small diameter portions of which are tapped to receive cone pointed screws I3 that are held in adjusted position by lock nuts I4.

The cone pointed screws I3 serve as pivots for mounting vertically positioned bars I5. There is one of the bars I5 for each Vertical row of keys 8. Each of the bars I5 is made from a piece of angle iron or similar structual shape and either a small plate l5 is attached to each end to receive the cone pointed screws I3 or one of the sides of the angle iron is bent over to provide the equivalent of the flat end piece I6. The cone pointed screws I3 engage the end pieces IG of the bars I5 at a point that is remote from an edge I1 of the bar. The edge i1 is oriented substantially in line with that one of the Vertical rows of the keys 8 with which it cooperates.

An opening I8 is cut in the back of the frame 9 and corresponds with a similar opening cut in the dial housing I so that arms I9 attached to the vertical bars I5 may be connected through links to extensions 2l of type bars 22 (see Figure IV). The type bars 22 and extensions 2I are guided in a framework 23 attached to portions of the printing mechanism so that the type bars 22 are accurately guided with respect to the printing mechanism.

Each vertical row of keys 8 is carried in a subframe that consists of a front plate 24 and a back plate 25. The front plate 24 is given a Z-bend at each end and the back plate 25 is attached to the bent portions so that it lies parallel to but displaced from the front plate 24 throughout the greater portion of its length. The ends of the bent portions of the front plate 24 are drilled so that the subframe may be secured against the front edge of the flanges I8 and II by means of screws 2G or other suitable attaching means.

Each of the keys 8 consists of a sleeve 21 that is slidably mounted in aligned holes 28 and 29 of the front and back plates 24 and 25 respectively.

Each sleeve 21 carries a collar 3l! rigidly attached thereto. A helical compression spring 3l en circles each sleeve 21 and is held compressed between the collar 3D and the back plate 25 of the subframe so as to urge the key toward its forward or undepressed position. Each of the sleeves 21 is internally threaded to receive a long headless screw 32 which contacts the edge l1 of the bar I5 when the key is depressed. Each of the screws 32 has a screw driver slot 33 which may be reached by removing a button 34 from the end of the sleeve 2?. The buttons 34 serve as pads on the ends of the keys to protect the operators fingers and also to carry indicia corresponding to the position of the strips 2 as determined by that particular one of the keys 8.

A small helical tension spring 35 connected between the back plate 25 of a subi'rame and the bar I5 continuously urges rotation of the bar I5 on the cone pointed screws I3 so as to bring the edge I1 of the bar I5 against the headless screws 32 of the keys 8. Thus the springs 35 tend to draw the printing strips 22 to their zero position or to their blank position, the latter if eleven positions are provided to avoid printing zeros at the left of the highest signicant gure.

Referring now to Figure IV, each of the subframes carries a pivotally mounted latch bar 36 that has a beveled edge 31 (Figure V) adapted to catch under the collar 3G when a key is depressed and to hold the key in its depressed position as shown by the key Ga of Figure IV. The latch Ibars 35 each have a ridge 38 formed between two adjacent portions of the surface of the bar so that when a key is being depressed, such as the key 8b of Figure IV, the collar 3D engages the ridge 38 and pushes the latch bar 35 back far enough to disengage any previously depressed key before the key being pressed reaches its bottom or depressed position. The angle between the surfaces forming the ridge 38 is great enough so that regardless of the manufacturing variations in the collars any previously depressed key will be positively released upon depression of any other key in the same vertical row.

The latch bars are pivotally mounted on cone pointed screws 39 threaded through the horizontal portions of the Z-shaped bends of the front subframe plate 24. The cone pointed screws 39 are held in adjusted position by lock nuts 40 that are tightened against the adjacent horizontal surfaces of the front plate 24. Torsion springs 4I circumjacently mounted on the upper ones of the cone pointed screws 39 each have one end 42 anchored to the front piece 24 of the subframe and its other end 43 hooked over the edge of the corresponding latch bar 35. The springs 4I are tensioned to continuously urge the latch bars 36 into engagement with the collars 3U of the keys 8.

Each of the latch bars 35 near its lower end carries a horizontal arm 44 that, being provided with a set screw 45 which cooperates with an edge of the corresponding subframe back plate 25, serves to limit the movement of the latch bar 35 to an amount that is just suicient to positively latch the collar 38 of a depressed key.

Each of the arms 44 is notched at its end to provide fingers 46 that straddle a square portion 41 of a horizontal axially slidable release bar 48. The release bar 48, the ends of which are of circular cross section, is carried at one end in a for- Wardly extending side arm 49 of the frame 9 and at its other end in a Z-shaped bracket 5D mounted from a second forwardly extending side arm 5 .-.lifsprnhedrameal The .latchfreleasexbard ear- :mesmeknobeiz bedingterstemr 5,3., sleevedfoverlthe emiten ther1ateh..hare4a. .Af compressienwsprmg all :sleeved .onta-.the :latchs 'release-mari 48- ris held 'finecompression l.between the'stemflii vvof thecrelease Lknobland the7 adjaeentrsurface; oflssthe Zeshaped .hra'nketi 5l);l sorgthati theslatchaeleasebarzisjeon- -tinuously .urged ,towardtheleftlaszseenfin :Eigures .1I;and.ilV. .1TPinsai5iare.setiinethessquarezportion -:ll11;.ofvthe:la.tch release; bar fillrsorasi toabe zjustiout 4Mineria.arf-key ,iselatched in'itsdepressedtposition ythe corresponding type-I of Ztheassociated typelbar Maisaaccuratelyddca'ted invprintingt'position. yIn itheepanticular mechanism illustratedrsthefmaxfimum travel of a type bar from its normal-position occursin settingfupfthe indicia corresponding to the uppermost' keys in the bank of keys. The minimum travel of the type bar occurs when setting-dipf thef'typeI ycorresponding to'n thewbottom keys. Intermediate .positions l,art-obtained with the other keys.

In'.the event that eleven'fpositions of the'type `:hars 2.2 areidesiredso thatzwheniprintingmultidigit numbersthe zeros .to therleitlof thef'iirst -significant figure are omitted, thestroke offthekeys f8, .the length of the l arms l 9 ,Y lthe location. ofethe .pivots'forihthe-vertical. barsftewith respect t-o the edge il and the spacing of vthe type on :the v'type bars12-21 iscorrelatedso thata blankfspace on the' type` bar.v 22 is` set Aup iin-.printing :position `vwhen Atheedge I 'I of Y the bar `:conta-'cts the adj usting screw? 324 of .the upper-most-.lrey as ishownfin Figurel yIII when-such-key'ffis-f ini-its undepressed position. When that key is depressed and latched it drives the type bar 22 to the other end of its travel and sets the type at that end of the bar in printing position. The other nine positions are selected by means of the remaining keys, the adjusting members 32 of which are set according to the required travel of the type bar 22.

The provision of eleven positions does not materially increase the precision required in the construction of the parts because only ten of the positions, the ten at which there are printing type set up in printing position, need be Iaccurately located and the eleventh position at which no printing is done may come where it will just so long as the adjacent type of the bar is outside the edge of the printing position. Thus the adjusting members 32 of the keys take care of the alignment in each of the ten printing positions for each of the type bars 22.

This key-operated mechanism is extremely simple to manufacture and service because of the ease with which it may be assembled or disassembled for adjustment. For example, each of the subframes carrying a vertical row of keys may be removed as a separate unit by merely taking out two screws 25 and unhooking the corresponding tension spring 35. The adjustment of the printing position of the type bars 6 may be .'fmade :without: any dlsassemhlyenther vvthanf:slipping\s,'chefeap:;14-:aofi:the,teorrespltarwling keyfand inserting a screw.idriventixrtof.=.theislmtve 21.=to rotatefthe.adjustingiscrewil 1 `.Various:modifications'finvatherdetailszenf. construction vmay :be .made @without departingfrfrom the spirit-tand 'scopexfoff thefinvention.

`S-fHaying described` the inventinmil claim:

'f 1.".Infaftypei positioning; mechanismfiazweigh.- ing scale printingl'deviee;in'cornbinatinnmtzleast kone :bar' having printing s type :spaced/1: along a .portionl of: I its :length: guideiameans-:Jfcr guiding thepbar .throughfa printingystationaa dniweilink v`operativelyfu'sonnected@toty thezbarfor movingizit longitudinally through said .guide rfmeans, zien elongated .bar .pivotedi 'onian axis ipa-ralielfto;k its length,- ay .laterally fextendingfarm .foni-saidflonr'gated-bar'fwhich .farmi` is connected-r 'to/-sgaididrive linkf-vafplurality a 'of keys -arranged selectivelynto -engage a portion of Isai'd selongatedibarn'emote 'from itsT axis of rotatiomeallatch :barecooperating-with :the -keys .for I holding r-the flast operated key Ain operated posi-tion, Asaid'f'latch: :bari'zheing pivotalfon its axisna beveled edgeionesaidfbar adjacent-said keys, `va collarifixedffon eaehckey adapted to` be f held in -a Llatchedzposition byvthe beveled edge 'when a"r jkey =is i depressed; afsspring urging y the latch barv toward thefkeys, spring means urging :said keys Ltoward their :inondepressed positions,- anda f rdgefondsaidlatch vbar 4adapted to lbe lengaged 'vby fthe `1,collar ofaza keyrfbeing*depressedffto epivotfsaid latch bariton its U'axis and thereby `'release @any previously latchedV key.

f 2."In aftype :positloningfdeyice for:-:a;1=mint er, in 1combination,a Yplurality fof typeibarssthat; are longitudinally rpositionableafto :present ,type "in printing position, atframe, #at least lione? bar mounted finrsaidflframe'fto pivotffabont .zaniiaxis parallel 'ftofits `length and :offset Timm-'ian #edge thereof, feach'f-bar having anfl'arm :and linkage connected to the corresponding typeibaneavremovable subframe comprising parallel .spaced apart platesI mountedvr onethe "fram-e@ :in: :parallel alignment-with the edge of Ileach of ther` barata seriesy of -tubularekeyse each slidablysxmonnted: `fin av pair ofsaligned holes "in the plates; ai eolien-on each key, the collar being located between the plates of the subframe, a screw threaded axially through each key and arranged to strike the edge of the cooperating bar, a spring engaging each key to urge it away from the bar, a spring urging the bar toward the keys, a pivotal latch bar mounted between the spaced apart plates and arranged to engage the collar of a depressed key to hold it in depressed position, and a longitudinal ridge on said latch bar which ridge is adapted to be engaged by the collar of a key being depressed to pivot said latch bar sufficiently to unlatch any previously latched key.

3. In a type positioning device for a printer, in combination, at least one type bar carrying type to be positioned, a frame, at least one bar mounted in said frame to pivot about an axis parallel to its length and offset from an edge thereof, an arm on said bar and linkage connecting the arm to the type bar, a removable subframe comprising parallel spaced apart plates mounted on the frame in parallel alignment with the edge of each of the pivoted bars, a series of tubular keys each slidably mounted in a pair of aligned holes in the plates, a collar on each key, a helical compression spring sleeved on each key and acting between the collar and that one of the plates nearer the pivoted bar, a spring urging the pivoted bar toward the keys, a screw threaded axially through each tubular key to engage the edge of the bar, a latch bar pivotally mounted between the plates of said subranie and arranged to engage the shoulder of a key to hold the key against the action of the springs, and a ridge on said latch bar which ridge is adapted to be engaged by the collar of a key being depressed to pivot said latch bar sufficiently to unlatch any previously latched key.

4. In a type positioning device for a weighing scale, in combination, a plurality of type carrying bars that are longitudinally positioned to present type in printing position, a frame, a plurality of parallelly mounted bars each of which is pivoted in the frame to turn about its longitudinal axis and each having an edge parallel to and spaced from its turning axis, an arm on each bar for connecting the bar to the type bar to be positioned thereby, a plurality of key assemblies each comprising a rst and a second narrow plate that are attached to each other in parallel spaced apart relation and mounted as'a unit in said frame in parallel alignment with the pivoted bars, the first plate of each of the key assemblies having a width equal to the spacing between the pivoted bars, a plurality of keys slidably mounted in the spaced apart plates in alignment with the edge of the associated bar, an adjustable member in each key that cooperates with the pivoted bar, springs urging each key toward its nondepressed position, a latch bar mounted on each key assembly intermediate the spaced apart plates and closely adjacent the keys, said latch bar being pivotal on its axis, means on each key that are engaged by said springs and that cooperate with the latch bar for holding the last operated key in operated position, and a longitudinal ridge on said latch bar adapted to be engaged by the means on each key engaged by the springs to pivot the latch bar on its axis.

5. In a type positioning device for a printer, in combination, at least one bar having printing type spaced along a portion of its length, guide means for guiding the bar through a printing station, a drive link operatively connected to the bar for moving it longitudinally through said guide means, an elongated bar pivoted on an axis parallel to its length, a laterally extending arm on said elongated bar which arm is connected to said drive link, a plurality of keys arranged selectively to engage a portion of said elongated bar remote from its axis of rotation, a latch bar cooperating with the keys for holding the last operated key in operated position, said bar being pivotal on its axis, a beveled edge on said bar adjacent said keys but spaced therefrom, a collar on each key adapted to be latched by the beveled edge when a key is depressed, a spring urging the latch bar toward the keys, a spring urging each key toward its non-depressed position, a ridge on said latch bar adapted 'to be engaged by the collars on said keys, engagement of said ridge by a collar of a key being depressed causing said latch bar to pivot away from the keys and release any previously latched key and latch the depressed key in operated position, an arm extending laterally from said latch bar, said arm being generally parallel with said keys, and a latch release bar slidable in a direction transverse to the arm, said release bar adapted to engage said arm on said latch bar to pivot said latch bar on its axis and thereby release any latched key to its non-depressed positions.

WILLIAM F,v KOCH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Number Name Date 462,384 Rumble Nov. 3, 1891 476,319 Severy June '7, 1892 621,878 West Mar. 28, 1899 674,267 Hubert May 14, 1901 681,240 Meyer Aug. 27, 1901 923,981 Mason June 8, 1909 1,197,277 Ellis Sept. 5, 1916 1,245,500 Pierce Nov. 6, 1917 1,442,059 Engstrom Jan. 16, 1923 2,092,852 Payne Sept. 14, 1937 2,348,789 Crosman May 16, 1944 

